Approach of a predictive, cybernetic power distribution management

Abstract

In recent years the trend of an increasing electrification was observable in automotive engineering. That yields an increase in both the total power and the short-term power peaks. Because of the high currents, it is becoming difficult to guarantee voltage stability in the 12 V power net and the danger of voltage instability increases. This paper deals with the development of a holistic system approach in order to actively balance the power distribution in the vehicles power net. In contrast to other solutions, the system is doing without additional components and topological modifications. However, the mobile environment makes some demands to the power distribution management system like the short resources, lack of fast real-time communication, or the complex power distribution topology of the wiring harness. Within this work it is pointed out that a cybernetic approach is well-suited to the application in vehicles. Transferring the ideas of other cybernetic management systems, for instance in business administration, to a vehicle's energy and power management results in principles as the detachment of object and steering layer, the introduction of a hierarchy, the principle of subsidiarity, and the development of an interaction interface between the system and its environment. By using these principles, the complex power distribution management task can be managed by lean and efficient systemswell-suited for the application in vehicles. © 2010 WEVA.